Page 99 of Volik

My smile fades, and I close my eyes.

I will not cry over that too.

“Well.” I take a calming breath. “You can talk however you want with me.”

His chest rumbles again, and I wiggle against his body, absorbing the vibrations.

“It feels like you’re purring.”

He hums. “I think I am.”

“Really?” My smile returns.

“It is… new.”

I turn my face into his neck. “I like it.”

“Good.”

We sit together, in the soft sound of his purr, before I speak again. “Will you tell me about your family?”

Volik leans back, keeping my body hugged to his, as he relaxes into the couch. “I will tell you. But no more crying.” One hand settles on the back of my neck as his other arm stays draped across my back.

“I won’t.”

“If you do, I will stop.”

“I’m rolling my eyes at you.”

Volik squeezes me, and I melt into him.

If he’s telling me not to cry, that means he’s going to tell me something sad. But I’ll do my best to keep my word.

“I grew up outside of a small village, in a comfortable home. My mother liked flowers…” Volik inhales against my hair. “My brother is fifteen years older, but he was good to me. It is hard to remember being so young, but he was my first friend.”

Memories of my brother slip into my mind.

One tear, then another, drip from my closed eyes.

I never should’ve promised not to cry.

Volik’s chest rumbles in the softest purr, making my tears fall faster, but he doesn’t stop talking. “My parents said they felt lucky to have a second child. My mother called me her miracle.” His tone is so soft it makes my chest ache. “Our females cannot get pregnant until they are past seventy. And even then, vampires do not have many children. It is nature’s way to control the population. Too many vampires would be unstoppable, and a threat to the natural order of things.” Lips press against my hair. “I do not know if the rules will be the same for you, but we will find out.”

I keep my eyes closed as I nod against him.

After last night, I should be worried about pregnancy. But my brain rejects the emotion. Like it knows we aren’t. And we won’t be anytime soon.

I haven’t considered children much, since I haven’t considered sex much. But I’m not against the idea.

I don’t know about being pregnant at seventy… But maybe being mated to a vampire means my life will be longer than normal.

Volik strokes his hand down my back. “We were a happy family of four. But when I was six, my parents were murdered.”

The air leaves my lungs.

When he was six?

I keep my eyes squeezed shut, fighting off the tears. “I’m so sorry.”